Challenge 906 - Bitter pill to swallow
Mar. 1st, 2026 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
m_findlowTitle: Bitter pill to swallow
Character: Owen, Tosh, Ianto
Author: m_findlow
Rating: PG
Length: 200 words
Length: 200 words
Content notes: None
Author notes: Written for Challenge 906 - Sour at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
torchwood100
torchwood100Summary: Owen's medicine isn't manufactured to be enjoyable. A double drabble.
‘Don't give me that look,’ Owen said, frowning at his patient.
‘But it's awful,’ Tosh replied. ‘It's all sour and bitter and horrible. I remember from last time.’
‘Well, you can rest assured that it hasn't improved any,’ came Owen's blunt reply. ‘The vaccine is only effective for about twelve months so you've got to have a booster every year.’
‘Couldn't you make it injectable? Even Ianto's best coffee can't mask the aftertaste.’ She cast a look at the top of the steps where Ianto was leaning on the railing, awaiting his turn. ‘No offence, Ianto.’
‘None taken. It really is the most bloody awful stuff.’
‘And it works best if taken orally,’ Owen insisted. ‘C'mon. It's only one little droplet on a teaspoon.’
‘That's what makes it worse,’ Tosh said. ‘At least if it were more you might be able to swallow it properly. This just lingers on the tongue.’
‘Sorry, but that's the way modern medicine works. It's not always pleasant. Unless of course you like losing limbs to muscular atrophy.’
Tosh scowled, took the teaspoon and shoved it in her mouth. ‘God, it's worse than last year!’
Ianto sighed. ‘I'll go brew us a triple shot espresso.’
‘Don't give me that look,’ Owen said, frowning at his patient.
‘But it's awful,’ Tosh replied. ‘It's all sour and bitter and horrible. I remember from last time.’
‘Well, you can rest assured that it hasn't improved any,’ came Owen's blunt reply. ‘The vaccine is only effective for about twelve months so you've got to have a booster every year.’
‘Couldn't you make it injectable? Even Ianto's best coffee can't mask the aftertaste.’ She cast a look at the top of the steps where Ianto was leaning on the railing, awaiting his turn. ‘No offence, Ianto.’
‘None taken. It really is the most bloody awful stuff.’
‘And it works best if taken orally,’ Owen insisted. ‘C'mon. It's only one little droplet on a teaspoon.’
‘That's what makes it worse,’ Tosh said. ‘At least if it were more you might be able to swallow it properly. This just lingers on the tongue.’
‘Sorry, but that's the way modern medicine works. It's not always pleasant. Unless of course you like losing limbs to muscular atrophy.’
Tosh scowled, took the teaspoon and shoved it in her mouth. ‘God, it's worse than last year!’
Ianto sighed. ‘I'll go brew us a triple shot espresso.’
no subject
Date: 2026-03-01 10:34 am (UTC)